Tire-armor.



J. W. WHlTSETT.

TIRE ARMGR.

HFPLiCATION FILED IULY13, 1914.

1 96,630. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET i.

aw Mal-mew J. W; WHITSETT.

TIRE ARMOR. v

"E'ILICATION FILED JULY I3. 1914.

1 06,630. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

perfectly smooth mannnmon.

ixoccso.

Application filed July 13, 1914. Serial No. 850,760. I

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, James \V. Nnrrsi-z'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at llerlu-rley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in The Armor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tire armor, and more particularly to tire armor of that type made up of a number tread of the tire. Ordinarily in armor of this class, the sections are constructed to overlap each other at their contacting or adjacent ends or they -are connected in spaced relation and in av flexible series. In either event, the relative movement of the sections is liable to result in the cutting of the tire or in the creation of heat through friction to such an extent as to deteriorate the rubber of which the tire is made. Another disadvantage possessed by armor constructed, as above pointed out, lies in the fact that the armor is liable to creep about the tire, thereby adding to the friction between the armor and tire. Furthermore, where the sections are loosely connected, there is liable to be considerable noise created as the Wheels pass over inequalities in the road surface and unless the sections firmly embrace the tread of the tire sand or dirt is liable to accumulate between the contacting surfaces of the tire and armor and by itspresence result in injury to the tire.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide tire armor so constructed that the sections comprising the same will be connected in an annular series with their ends contacting but not so firmly as to prevent relative movement of the sections and therefore prevented from rubbing the surface of the tire, the armor being further so constructe as to snugly fit the tread surface of the. tire in such a manner to prevent creeping of the armor.

Another aim of the invention is to so construct the armor that it will effectually cover and protect the entire tread surface of the tire in such a manner as to insure against puncture and to provide a continuous and running surface.

Another aim of the.inventi0n is to construct the armor in sucha manner that any of;the several sections comprising the same Specification of Letters Patent.

of sections connected together in an annularserlcs to surround the Patented Nov. 2s, rare.

1 may be readily removed and replaced when repairs are necessary.

The invention also aims to provide means for connecting the sections of 'the armor in such a manner that they will not be liable to become relatively displaced or ranged. H

The invention also contemplates the provision of anti-skid devices which may be readily rendered act'vc or inactive as road conditions may require.

1n the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the armor applied to a vehicle tire and wheel. Fig. 2 is a similar view in detail and partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the armor. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the armor sections applied to a solid tire. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the means for securing the links which conncctthe sections con'iprising the armor. Fig. (i is a detail perspective view of one of the armor sections. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a slightly modified form of. connection bc tuccwthe sections. Fig. h is a similar view. illustrating the armor applied to a pneu matic tire. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating another method of securing the conne ting links.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

in the drawings, the nun'ieral 1 indicates in general a vehicle wheel to the tire 2 of which the armor embodying the present invention is to be applied. The armor com prising the present invention is made up of a number of sections connected in an annular series and each of these sections comprises a metallic block 3, the tire engaging and tread faces of which a re curved from end to end of the block to conform to the curvature of the tire. Each block has its end faces 4 located in radial planes of the wheel when thearmor is in place upon the tire and the side faces 5 of each block are preferably relatively in clined, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and (S of the drawings, so that the blocks at their tread surfaces are of slightly less Width than at their tire engaging sides. Each block is formed at each side with a longitudinally extending lip (3 projecting at an angle from the inner or tire engaging surface of the disarthe links may be rel block, and by reference to.the several figures of the drawings, it will be observed that the said faces of the blocks are so formed to snugly embrace the tread surface of the tire whether the tire be of the solid or of the pneumatic type, the lips (i embracing the sides of the tire.

with an outstanding lug 7 which projects inwardly beyond the edge of the respective tire engaging lip (S, and the inner or opposing faces oftl'fese lugs are of such contour as to snugly" fit the tire surfice. A stud 8 is formed upon the outer face of each lug 7 and these studs are provided with threaded sockets 9 for a purpose to be presently explained. In connecting the sections comprising the armor in an annular series, it is preferable that the connection employed be of such character as to pei mit of the sections being connected together, in the series so that their ends will lightly but not firmly contact, and while va-- nous forms of connections may be employed for this purpose, the connection here shown is in the nature of a turn buckle including an interiorly threaded sleeve 10 and links 11 which have threaded stems 12 and flattened heads 13, each provided with an opening 14: of a diameter to receive the stud 8. The stems of the links are threaded into the sleeves of the turnbuckle connections and it will be observed that by turning the sleeve, atively adjusted, or, in other words, may be plying the tire armor or allowed to separate in removing the same from the tire. In order that the turn buckle connections may be held at adjustment, am nuts 15 are threaded onto the stems of the links and may be tightened to bear against the opposite ends of the respective sleeve 10. By reference to F igs; 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be apparent that in assembling the parts comprising the armor, the flattened ends 13 of the links are engagedover the studs upon the armor sections and screws 16 are then gagement from the studs,

fitted into the threaded sockets in the studs and serve to-hold the links against disena washer 17 being preferably disposed upon the'end of each stud so that the ends of the links may have pivotal movement upon the studs without likelihood of loosening the screw 16. If

found expedient, a cotter pin 18 and a washer 19 may be employed, as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, in preference to the screws 16 a ndwashers 17, the cotter pins being fitted through openings in the ends of the studs, as shown in the said figure.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the links may be readily assembled with the studs upon the armor sections and the sleeves 10 turned so as to draw the links together andiconsequently draw the sections together and withtheir ends barely contact- Each side face 5 of each block is foriued between the ends of the block drawn together in ap-- ing throughout the entire series, these meeting ends being, as before stated, radial to the wheeL' It will also be ,apparent that the armor, when in place upon the tire, presentsa fontinuous, smooth and unbroken tread siii face and that a smooth and continuous surface is presented to the tread sur face of the tire, the armor snugly fitting the tire surface not so tightly as to bind or injure the tire, but yet sufficiently so to prevent creeping of the armor about the tire, or undue frictional contact between the armorsections and the tire surface.-

While, as above stated, the sections comprising the armor are connected 'with their ends lightly contacting, the armor will, nevertheless, under working conditions, per? mit of the necessary yielding of. the tire to secure the full benefit of its cushioning effect. If greater flexibility is desired,-however, a connection such as shown in Fig. 7

having a stem 21 slidably fitting through,

the end of the first-mentioi ed stem, and

upon the stem 21 and within the stem 20 is fitted a compression spring 22 which bears at one end against the partly closed end 23 of the stem 20 and at its other end against a pin'or other stop element 24 at the end of the stem 21. In this form of connection the links are yieldahly drawn together as are consequently the sections connected by the links. tions may slightly separate against the tension of the spring 22 as pressure is imposed upon the armor and tire.

It is preferable that the sections comprising the armor be provided with anti-skid lugs which may be yond the tread surfaces of the sections or be housed within and concealed by the said sections. For this purpose each section is formed through its tread portion with one or more threaded openings 25 and adjustably threaded into each opening is an antiskid stud 26 having an engaging end 27 and having its other end socket 28 for the application of a suitable wrench or key, whereby the stud may be arranged to cause its engaging end to project and it will be apparent that the sec:

provided with a square adjusted to project bebeyond the tread surface of the section,ior

outer ends will be flush with the inner or tire engaging and outer or tread surfaces of the sections, thereby presenting an unbroken and smooth surface to the tire and to the road.- It Wlll of course be understood that the studs may be removed whenever desired andtherefore replaced when they become pingends engaging pivotally over the studs worn or broken. and hearing against the outer faces of the Having thus described the invention, diverging lugs, and retaining devices fitted what is claimed as new is: into the sockets and projecting over the 15 The combination with a tire, of an armor links. I

fitted to the tread surface of the tire and In testimony whereof I uiiix my signature comprising a plurality of sections arranged in presence of two Witnesses.

end to end and each provided medially of its J AMES \V. lVHITSETT. [Li s] longitudinal edges with diverging lugs hav- Witnesses: ing studs projecting laterally therefrom and W; N. \Voonson,

formed with sockets, links having overlap- JOSEPH C. ZXRKLE. 

